Are you about to go on a business trip to Auckland? If you are, do try to extend your trip. You wouldn’t want to miss what the largest city in New Zealand has to offer. So go pack some comfortable clothes, hire a weekend car rental in Auckland, and prepare to experience this great city.

City Thrills

While you can always go to art and history museums and see famous landmarks the first time you visit Auckland, why not do something more thrilling? If you’re up for some high-altitude fun, go to the Sky Tower or the Auckland Harbour Bridge. At the Sky Tower, try base-jumping by wire (SkyJump) and walking on a narrow ledge that’s 192 metres above the ground (SkyWalk). For bridge climbing and bungee jumping, the Auckland Harbour Bridge has you covered.

Nature Trips

From beaches and volcanoes to wildlife sanctuaries, there’s no shortage of scenic natural features in Auckland. For one, you can spend some time surfing or basking in the sun at the black-sand Piha Beach. There are also the dormant volcanoes Mount Eden and Rangitoto Island, which you can climb to get breath-taking views of the surrounding areas. And for a chance to see threatened and endangered animals, explore the Tiritiri Matangi Island.

Winery Tours

With world-class wines like cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and pinot gris being produced in Auckland, don’t miss the chance to visit the numerous vineyards and wineries here. In most of these wineries, you can go on guided tours or explore on your own by foot or bike, and then get to talk to the winemakers while sampling their creations. The Waiheke Island—also known as the Island of Wine—Matakana, and Kumeu are the three wine regions in Auckland.

So don’t just work when you get to visit Auckland. Find the time to experience the city and enjoy its diverse, fantastic offerings.

Travelling with the entire family is much different from a solo or a couple’s travel. If this will be your first time together overseas, it is perfectly normal to have many questions in mind. You could still be unsure where to take your little ones or how to keep everybody entertained, given that you all have different interests. Moreover, dealing with a possible emergency could cause you to worry that you will think of cancelling your plans altogether. You probably have more ‘what ifs’ in mind, but the answer to all of them is simple — preparation.

Here are some ideas to make sure you are fully prepared for your trip:

Choose location-friendly attractions

If you are visiting Singapore, for instance, you need to make smart choices with the hotel you are going to book and the places you intend to tour. Long public transport rides could bore children, while long walks may drain everybody’s energy before even reaching a specific destination.

Many fun and interesting places in Singapore are near the MRT, while others have a hotel of their own. A good example is Sentosa. If you visit their official website (sentosa.com.sg), you can choose from the many hotels, resorts, and spas in their list. Book one of them instead if most of the destinations in your itinerary are in this island resort.

Book reservations as early as possible

When travelling without kids, your main concern is the budget and experience. You could couch surf, book an Airbnb or a hostel, or even stay at a friend’s place. When travelling with kids, however, comfort and location are the deal breakers. Whichever the case, booking a hotel as early as possible is ideal to make sure you will get a room. In addition, always have a Plan B in case something comes up months or weeks before your flight.

Rent equipment to lighten your load

Most travel destinations already have essential equipment for rent, so you do not have to bring a stroller (for instance) and pay for that extra luggage. Their availability, however, will depend on the location and demand. It is best to research or enquire directly at the destination to know their rates and the number they could rent per day.

Travelling abroad as a family has unique challenges you need to anticipate. With proper planning, you could make sure that everything will flow smoothly and that you would get to enjoy a great vacation.

When you need to travel for leisure or business from here in South Bend, you will usually plan for it in advance. Sometimes, however, situations come up suddenly, and you have to jump on a plane at the last minute.

Alternately, you can pay for a seat on a flight to a less expensive airport, and from there, you can drive to your destination.

Time Your Booking Right

The timing of your last-minute booking will also matter in saving money. Choose flights anytime in the morning to avoid delays and cancellations. Worst case scenario and you miss your trip; you can hop on the next flight out of South Bend.

Be Flexible with your Schedule

In connection with the trick above, you can look to red-eye flights early in the morning to save money. Airlines usually discount on these flights because people usually don’t want to travel early in the day.

When you are quite flexible with your schedule, you can fly early in the morning, although consider your layover time if you have a connecting flight.

Comments Off on Getting Lost in Bath City Centre: A List of Places to Go and See

by Zeus Gazette

The Bath City Centre offers more than just a typical sightseeing. From warm and relaxing spa baths to impressive landmarks as well as culture and arts centre, you have a handful of places and activities to experience. Here is a list to help you explore the wonderful city of Bath:

A tour of the city’s heritage at the museum

Feel closer to the city of Bath by visiting some of the museums around. Many of these places narrate the origin as well as the rich heritage of the city. There are also museums that are close to most Bath City Centre hotels, so you will never have to be worried about getting lost or being inconvenienced. You may also go watch and enjoy your favourite play at some of the city’s theatre centres such as the Old Theatre Royal, Krow Keepers, and Theatre Royale Bath.

A Roman Bath experience

Following the origin of the city’s name, you can never miss the chance to enjoy a relaxing bath time in Bath. The Roman Baths complex is a historical site that preserves the 2,000-year old Roman public bath in the city. The place offers guests a full bath experience in the thermal waters to give them a taste of experience as to how Romans did it centuries ago.

A walk through the Royal Crescent

Hailed as one of Bath’s most iconic landmarks, Royal Crescent is truly an eye-catching place to visit. It brags 30 terrace houses that follow an impressive Georgian architecture. Aside from its unique style, what is so remarkable about this landmark is its perfect lawn, which uses a recessed or turfed landscape style to serve as its barriers against grazing livestock.

Enjoy a wonderful time on your trip to the city of Bath by including all or any of these suggestions on your travel bucket list. Once you get there, you will be surprised by the amount of activities you could do and try, so do not dare miss it out.

Travelling in the modern world is more than just convenient; it is personalised. This, of course, means different things for each person — and that is the point. No one will have the same experiences while travelling, even if you are travelling together. A holiday in New Zealand can prove to be quite the journey.

Hidden Gems

One of the conveniences offered by Auckland is the abundance of car rental options. In the city alone, you can rent a car to take you to some of the best spots. If you extend your travel to the whole of New Zealand, you might discover a few hidden gems along the way.

There are hidden pools and small cafés to visit as well as plenty of memories to capture. Whether you are with the family or a handful of friends, the breathtaking photographs you take will be nothing compared to the experience.

Overcoming Limitations

While not everyone is ready to jump into travelling and experiencing new things because of fears such as agoraphobia, modern conveniences can now give one an alternative way to ‘travel.’ Take Jacqui Kenny, for instance.

While she is an agoraphobe, she has managed to explore the world through Google Street View — and she has done a bit of travelling herself to attend an exhibition of her photographs in New York.

Up next, she is planning to fly home to Auckland from the comforts of London, which she has called home for more than a decade.

A Test of Patience and Resourcefulness

No matter how much of a planner you are, things can go wrong along the way. It’s up to you to work around the challenges that arise and make the most of a bad situation. It can be a great learning experience if you know how to adapt.

There are different ways to travel, and each one is enjoyable in its own way. Make the most of your journey by collecting experiences.

Comments Off on Here’s How to Become a Better and Respectful Bed and Breakfast Guest

by Zeus Gazette

If you are looking to have a vacation abroad, you have a lot of options when it comes to accommodations. You can go to hotels if you have the dough or you can choose to stay at a hostel if you want to save money. But if you want to enjoy the comfort of a home at a reasonable price, bed and breakfast accommodation might just be what you need.

But being a guest to such accommodation does not give you the license to be too lax and rude, either. If you want to be a better and kinder guest, here are some of the things you might want to keep in mind.

Know your host

As a sign of respect, it would be nice if you get to know your host first. If your time and budget permit, you can get them a gift from your place. Gauge their personality based on your conversations with them. Before you check in, notify your host ahead of time, knowing that they will have to make some preparations to keep you comfortable.

Know the house rules

It is vital that you get acquainted with the house rules. The rules are there to maintain order and more importantly, to protect the host’s property. If you have some concerns with the rules, ask questions immediately to avoid problems and misunderstanding down the line.

Always show up

Whether you are staying in a hotel-type bed and breakfast or a boutique b&b in Bath, it will always be a sign of respect to show up at the table or at any event you are invited. Dress appropriately to signify that you honour their invitation.

Staying in a bed and breakfast accommodation can be one of the best decisions you will make while you are travelling abroad. May the tips above help you form a harmonious relationship with the host.

Comments Off on Two Super Simple Ways to Get a Super Holiday on a Weekend

by Zeus Gazette

You spend weekends lounging at home, taking walks around the neighbourhood and doing nothing. After all, you deserve the non-active weekend following a stressful week at work. You need this weekend to ‘top up’ lost energy reserve, and recharge your mind and body so you avoid taking sick days. Your routine, though, is becoming dull and you feel like doing something else.

Here are two effortless ways to experience a great holiday on a weekend:

1. Don’t stay indoors

By all means, catch up on sleep and stay in bed longer on a Saturday or Sunday. But that doesn’t mean you should lie down all day. While appealing, it can sap more energy and lead to a sedentary lifestyle on weekends, which can bring about chronic diseases.

Rather than turn into a couch potato, go for a hike or spend some time in the park. Get as much fresh air and sunlight as possible. After a week spent behind your desk in a building, your mind and body will appreciate the outdoors.

2. Do a one-day holiday

Think of it as a mini holiday. Instead of waiting months before you take a trip, look up activities that you can enjoy for an entire day. Go to museums around your city and rediscover contemporary art.

Book a whale watching cruise and marvel at majestic whales. Western Australia is a good place to go for these tours because humpback whales migrate to the area around June. While in WA, you can also head to Penguin Island for more spectacular wildlife viewing.

Other mini holiday ideas include an overnight stay at a seaside villa, a drive through scenic Great Ocean Road with a stopover at surf mecca Bells Beach and a simple gastronomic odyssey of Australia’s best restaurants in your area.

You have multiple options to spend a better, grander weekend than staying at home. If you’re able, take a quick trip out of the city. If not, explore parts of your city you have never visited.

A mini holiday will do your mind and body some good. And when Monday comes around, you’re ready for another week-long ‘battle’ with paperwork, projects and meetings.